Aft inner cap plate removal method and tooling for a combustor with micromixer tubes

Abstract

The present application provides an aft plate removal tool for servicing a combustor. The combustor includes an aft plate with a central passage and a number of tubes extending through the aft plate. The aft plate removal tool includes a central screw, a lower housing attached to the central screw, the lower housing including a number of spring loaded lower housing feet, and an upper housing attached to the center screw, the upper housing including a number of spring loaded upper housing feet. The aft plate removal tool is inserted through the central passage of the aft plate such that rotation of the upper housing advances the spring loaded upper housing feet against the aft plate until the spring loaded upper housing feet push the aft plate off of the tubes.

We claim: 
     
       1. An aft plate removal tool for servicing a combustor, the combustor comprising an aft plate with a central passage and a plurality of tubes extending through the aft plate; the aft plate removal tool comprising:
 a central screw; 
 a lower housing attached to the central screw, the lower housing comprising a plurality of spring loaded lower housing feet; and 
 an upper housing attached to the center screw, the upper housing comprising a plurality of spring loaded upper housing feet; 
 wherein the aft plate removal tool is inserted through the central passage of the aft plate; and 
 wherein rotation of the upper housing advances the plurality of spring loaded upper housing feet against the aft plate until the plurality of spring loaded upper housing feet push the aft plate off of the plurality of tubes. 
 
     
     
       2. The aft plate removal tool of  claim 1 , wherein the central screw is fixed within the lower housing. 
     
     
       3. The aft plate removal tool of  claim 1 , wherein the upper housing rotates about the central screw. 
     
     
       4. The aft plate removal tool of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of spring loaded upper housing feet comprises pads thereon. 
     
     
       5. The aft plate removal tool of  claim 4 , wherein the pads comprise a polyoxymethylene material. 
     
     
       6. The aft plate removal tool of  claim 1 , wherein the lower housing comprises a slide rod fixed therein and wherein the upper housing rotates about the slide rod. 
     
     
       7. The aft plate removal tool of  claim 6 , wherein the slide rod comprises a bearing thereon. 
     
     
       8. The aft plate removal tool of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of spring loaded lower housing feet comprises a pair of the spring loaded lower housing feet and wherein the plurality of spring loaded upper housing feet comprises a pair of the spring loaded upper housing feet.